The Many Faces of E

******  2 posts for the day! Don't miss 'em!!  ******

This boy still has his shoe fetish!

One of my favorites!

Say what?

Silly Daddy! (He loves playing with my old phone!

Can I suck on that lens?!

Another new fetish is to steal Daddy's shoe inserts and play with them.

Yes, I know that I am cute!

Hey you!  Stop flashing me in the eyes with that camera!

Ta Da!

Cute cheese ball!

OK! I'm done with this photo shoot!

Finally posting about the fair

 Yeah, I know, I'm a tad slow. The fair happened nearly 3 weeks ago but I figured better late than never! We ended up meeting our Sister-in-law and her children at the fair. Her Aunt Vicky also came with us. Here are some picture from the day.

Here is P, C, Aunt Vicky, and W walking hand-in-hand. It was totally cute.

The kids were pretty good about sticking close.

I got a kick out of these tiny ribbons. I have no idea who got this ribbon but I just had to get a picture.

Of course, we had to make a stop at the Culligan booth! J and I both wore our "I love Culligan" stickers because, after all, it does pay our mortgage! ;-)

Here is P with his awesome feather. He likes wearing it in the front.

Our nephew, C, actually giving me a smile!!!

Our niece, W, wasn't going to oblige. ;-)

C and I hanging out watching J's friend perform.

Dude, you're saying CHEESE the wrong way! This kid was so excited to be able to get inside the different tractors!

Hmmm .... I think you are still a tad short to drive that sucker.

So excited!

Sitting in the bucket. (Is that what you call it? I'm not very tractor savvy!)

Here is a video of J's friend, Dan Dale. He is a great musician and performed at the fair. We went to support him and he did a great job! At the end you'll see P doing some lovely dancing.

I Got Tagged!

Oh man! I haven't been blog tagged in a very long time!  Thank you, Evelyn! I enjoyed your answers! Here are the 8 questions that she has asked me to answer.

1. Did you swear you'd never do something when you became a parent and now find yourself doing? Fess up.
----- I'm trying to think. I swore that I'd never be one of those parents that yelled at their kids in the store. Now, I don't think that I have actually yelled, but I now understand why they did. Sometimes, I wonder why I even try to go shopping with the kidlets. I actually almost always refuse to go alone with them. I either make them stay at home with J or make J come with me! I'm a chicken that way, I guess.

2. If you could only eat three foods for the rest of your life, what would they be?
----- Only 3?!?!?!?!  One that is a definite must is fettuccine chicken alfredo.  YUM!  Lets see, ooh I just remembered my moms wonderful chicken and dumplings! Now those are heaven. We don't get them very often but when we do I am one happy woman!  My third choice would probably be pepperoni pizza. Healthy - no, yummy and greasy - Heck yeah!

3. Retell your worst dating experience.
----- My worst dating experience wasn't even technically a date. Two friends and I went to Utah for a group date. The kid that was supposed to be my date ended up not being able to come. So my friends both had their dates and I was the 5th wheel. It was awful! There I sat, with both couples cuddling and having their own conversations. We were staying the night at a house that night, so I ended up just leaving and getting in my sleeping bag upstairs. I just laid there and cried. It was so embarrassing and awful. (By the way, the boys FINALLY went home around 4 am. Lots of cuddling and smooching occurred. GAG!)  But, amazingly enough, there was a positive to the horrible experience. I had given up on my wonderful, sweet J. I had been trying to show him I was interested and invited him to group dates and stuff. He wasn't getting the hint and I gave up. I went home from the horrible experience and cried to my dad about it and about J. He felt impressed to tell me to give J one more chance. So, I called him and invited him to one more activity. On the way home, I was actually bold enough to tell him right out, "J, I like you a lot and I'm interested in dating you, if you are."  It was left at that and I went home. The next day, Sunday, I was at church and playing the organ. I looked down to where my mom was sitting and THERE SAT J!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I was so surprised and excited. At the end of Sacrament Meeting, we started talking and he asked me out on a date. From then on, we were always together and got engaged about 2 1/2 months later! :-)  That horrible experience ended up transforming into one of the best things ever! I love you, J!

4. What was the most recent thing that made you cry?
----- Oh man, I cry a lot. I can't even remember. I think it was probably while we were waiting for the biopsy results for E. (We are still waiting on some results and I will do a post later to let you all know what is up.)

5. Favorite childhood memory. Go!
----- Just one. That is tough. I think some of my favorite memories was of playing catch with my dad in the backyard. He taught me how to throw, catch, and how to hit the softball. I remember him saying, "Stop closing your eyes and watch the ball connect with the bat." It made all the difference and I was finally able to start hitting it. One time, we were playing catch and the lawn had just been mowed. I mis-threw the ball to my dad. It ended up rolling on the ground and right into the basement bathroom window. CRASH!  I felt so bad and cried but my dad was very gentle about it. It really was an accident! :-) 

6. What piece of advice have you received that you will NEVER forget? Good or bad.
----- Probably to taking things one day at a time or even one minute at a time. I suffered from severe postpartum depression after both P and E were born. It really helped. Also, after E was born, I ended up going to a counselor. He gave some great advice about just breathing and being calm. We were really struggling with P and bedtime and the time. He gave some great advice on how to help P, which in turn helped me to remain calmer. It was great!

7. You're driving, approaching an intersection and the light is yellow. What do you do? Would your answer change if your kids weren't in the back seats? Would your answer change if your mother-in-law was in the passenger seat?
----- Sadly enough, P knows that I'll punch the gas and go for it. Now, my in-laws already call me a crazy, fast driver. :-/  Oops! If they are in the car, I would totally take it slower ... because they are back seat drivers! ;-)

8. What do you do to keep your eye on the prize when it all just gets to be too much?
----- J helps me. I tend to be a  major worrywart and freak out a lot. J keeps my feet on the ground and keeps me calm. He really is a true blessing in our lives!


Ok, now that I have answered the questions that Evelyn gave me, I'm actually gonna answer the questions she answered to. I always love these and love getting to learn more about people!


1. Do you collect anything? What is it? If not, do you WISH you did?
----- I don't really collect anything in particular. I guess I do collect crafts that were made at church functions but never get displayed. They just keep getting added to the pile of other stuff I've made.


2. What room in your house would you most like to remodel? Would your answer change if someone else was paying for it?
----- I would love to add another bathroom to the upstairs. We've had too many accidents from P because J or I are occupying the only bathroom. If we had limitless amounts of money, I would LOVE to remodel the apartment in the basement. The kitchen is a tiny, dark kitchen that is a deal breaker for many potential tenants. I would love to put in larger windows and enlarge the kitchen down there. I think it would making a lot easier to rent it out. Luckily, we do have a tenant right now. We seem to attract the single ladies who don't cook much. I DON"T CARE! As long as it is rented! :-)


3. What is your LEAST favorite chore? Do you hate it enough to get a maid to do it, or are you too anal for that?
----- I absolutely HATE to clean the bathroom and usually refuse. J has that responsibility. I seriously gag when I watch J clean it. I don't know why it affects me so.


4. Have you ever had a broken bone? What and how?
----- I have had a bone in my wrist broken. I was playing softball with the young men and young women when I was 16 or 17. I was pitching and a kid line-drived it right back at me. I did have anytime to react but bring my arm up and the ball hit my wrist. It hurt really bad. Luckily, I didn't need a cast but just a wrist splint for the summer.


5. Music. Do you have a go to album that you play to get you motivated, or do you just blare the radio, and pray that something peppy comes on?
----- There isn't really a "go to" album of choice. When P was an infant I did listen to the Dixie Chicks album "Taking The Long Way" a lot.  I don't mind jamming to the radio but end up shutting it off because I find myself tapping my foot to Lady Gaga. Ugh, I better not get started.


6. How do you keep track of your schedule? Old fashioned calendar? Set alerts on your phone? Fly by the seat of your pants, and pray you don't forget a Parent/Teacher conference?
----- Everything goes into the calendar on my cell phone. If it doesn't, I won't remember it. I have it set to remind me on some of the events. But, I check my phone schedule 2 or 3 times a day. If I lost my phone, I would be toast!


7. Cooking, baking, or neither?
----- Ugh. I really would like to cook or bake but I absolutely HATE the clean up afterward. So, I don't do either. I used to be a good little wife and cook meals all the time. Ever since I had kids, that went out the window. The kitchen is closed in and feels like a prison. Maybe one day we'll get an open layout house where I can feel like I'm included in what else is happening in the house. The funny part about it. I watch Food Network and Top Chef on Bravo RELIGIOUSLY! Weird.


8. Are you brand name specific, or are generics just as good? What is one product you would NEVER replace with a generic brand?
----- I am all about whatever is cheapest. We rarely buy name brand stuff. I used to insist on Sketcher before I got married. Now, I am a Payless Shoes shopper all the way! :-) One product that I will insist on getting is my Diet Dr. Pepper. None of this Mr. Pibb or Shasta imitations for me!


Thanks for sticking with me on all of these questions! If you want to be tagged, consider it done! I'd love to learn about you! You can pick to top 8 questions or the bottom 8 questions or all 16! It is completely up to you!

First day of school! First day of school!

I can't stop thinking of this clip from Finding Nemo. P was so stinkin' excited for his first day of school! Here is the story. The day before school started we went to meet his teacher and see his classroom. P was acting very shy and didn't say much. As we started to leave, he broke down into tears. He wanted to stay and go to school right then. It was pretty sad. The whole evening and next morning, all he could talk about was going to school and when are we going to school. Finally, it was time to leave and he was very excited and acted like a total goof for his "photo shoot."

The one really good, non-goof picture I got.

So giddy!

Yes, I'm a big boy going to school!

Yes, I'm awesome and I know it!

Excited much?

Showing off the sweet backpack he picked out.

(It is from How To Train Your Dragon.)

My mom says it is ugly and looks like the Mucinex blob on the TV commercials! :-)

At school and humoring mom for another picture.

Ready to go!

After this pic, I finally took him into his class. I helped him put his backpack in his own very cubby and started to say goodbye. He clung to me a little bit but didn't cry. He started to follow me out as I left but Miss Melissa guided him back in the room and that was that.

Unfortunately, I had to go to work so I didn't get to pick him up from school. Thankfully, my awesome dad is going to help me get P to and from school when I have to work. So, my dad picked him up and got the scoop. From what dad could tell me (while I was on my break at work), P got to play with sand and water and got to play at the playground next door to the preschool teacher's house. My dad dropped P off at daycare and his daycare provider asked him how school was. He told her, "I love my teacher!" Sounds like success to me!!!

P-isms

I post a lot of great stuff on Facebook that never seems to find its way here. Silly tidbits of life, funny things that P does or says, etc. I thought I had better share some of them before I forget. (Actually, I didn't remember all of these. I found an application on Facebook that shows me my history of status'. SWEET!)

• The other night J was getting P ready for bed. P started talking to J very seriously about something but no sound was coming out of his mouth. He kept mouthing words and having a very intense discussion with J. J kept saying, "What are you doing? Why are you doing that?" Finally, P spoke and said in a matter of fact voice, "DAAADDD! I can't hear!"
• P has these two inflatable Crayons that are about a foot long. He loves it when we put them under his shirt, on his back, so then he feels like he has a jet-pack. He runs around playing like he is an astronaut. Anyway, the other day, he runs up to me (with said Crayons in place) and says, "Mom! I have LOTS of gas!"  I nearly died laughing! :-)
• Every night we tell P he has ten minutes before he has to go and get ready for bed. It is a nice buffer that lets him get used to the idea of going to bed and has stopped the major tantrums ... most of the time. One night, his ten minutes were up and he was not pleased. He informed me that I was no longer his mom and that Grandma Bonna was. ("Grandma Bonna" is his awesome daycare provider.) I might have been upset but I love Bonna to bits so it didn't bother me! :-)  P loves going there and loves to see Grandma Bonna at church!
• While we were driving somewhere, P told me, "Daddy is big and strong ..... and you are short!"
• P kept talking about the "a-keer-um" and I had no idea what he was talking about! Finally, I figured out he was trying to say: aquarium!
• I asked P to put his toys away and he said, with a know it all voice, "but Mom, it's too late!" Whatever dude, clean up!
• P saw the crescent moon a while back and exclaimed, "Where did the broken pieces go?!"
• P loves to watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and started running around, saying Ka-moon-ga!  (Cowabunga)
• We had quite the experience on August 1st. I went to a neighborhood party with my parents. One of the hosts was a Bishop of mine from my childhood. He lost his right arm in a farming accident as a child. P noticed and kept mentioning it to me. I told him that it was okay and explained the accident. When my parents arrived, P started talking about it again trying to show them. I kind of shushed him because I was embarrassed. Then, as we were getting ready to leave, the sweet man came up to say goodbye to us. I shook his hand and then he turned to P to say goodbye. P immediately declared, "You have one arm!" He was so sweet and nice and said, "Yes I do!" Then he tried to convince P that he had sucked on his thumb and ended up biting his arm off. P immediately said, "Nuh uh! A tractor did it!" I think it caught him off guard but he knew he had been caught and laughed. I am so grateful that he was so understanding of our sweet, innocent child. :-)
• One day we walked into a pitch black garage and P exclaimed, "It's so dark, I can't hear!"
• P asked me, "Do you want to watch a movie, Honey?" :-)
• One day, P was trying to show our Home Teachers his owie on his bum. Luckily, we got him stopped before he got his pants dropped! :-)
• While playing with some toys, P yells out, "Seat belts, Captain!"  I think he and J have been watching too much Star Trek! ;-)
• P informed me that I am not a lady, just a girl .. and a mom.
• J broke a plastic fork and P immediately demanded a band aid to fix it!
• P reassured me that I am a girl, not a monster. Good to know!

Playing At My Parents & Handsome Faces

On Sunday, we went to my parents house for dinner. Afterward, as we were saying goodbye to my grandparents, we decided to hang out in the front yard for a bit. I started dead heading some of my mom's flowers. (It is an addiction of mine, I don't know why.)  Anyway, E crawled over to "help."

Look Grammy! A weed!

OOOOHHHHHHH!

Sweet guy!

Such kissable lips! Love this face! :-)

Such a sweet little man!

The next day, my mom tended E while I took P to his speech therapy appointment. Here are some pictures she got that day!

Hmmm .... I wonder if I could pull these blinds right off their track?

After P and I got back, E gave me a nice, big, sloppy kiss!  LOVE IT!!!

P with his CHEESE face. Kind of turns into a gritted teeth face. ;-)

I'm mad! I don't want to be held down to put my pants back on! I wanna crawl around FREE!

Hmmm .... what kind of trouble should I cause next?!?!